New York Helicopter Crash Claims Lives Of Three Soldiers On Training Mission

A military helicopter crash in New York on Wednesday claimed the lives of three military men who were on a routine training mission. It was identified as the UH-60 medical evacuation helicopter at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Rochester International Airport.

According to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, the chopper crashed in a field on W. Bloomfield Road in Mendon at around 6:32 p.m. 911 calls were already made before the crash after the helicopter was spotted flying very low. In a press briefing, it was also reported that the engine was already sputtering.

“It got louder and louder, and all of a sudden it was an explosion,” shared Greg Keyes, one of the people who recalled moments leading up to the crash. “And I said to my wife, ‘A helicopter just went down.’”

When the chopper crashed, multiple fire departments responded to the scene together with state police and U.S. military representatives. However, the helicopter was already engulfed in flames when the first responders got to the scene.

As of this writing, the true cause of the crash has yet to be known. The debris field from the crash is said to be the size of a few city blocks and the road near it remains closed for now with an investigation by the New York National Guard and Federal Aviation Administration now ongoing.

ABC News reported that the chopper belonged to the C Company of the 1st Battalion, 171st General Support Aviation Battalion. Flags on all state buildings will be lowered at half-staff on Thursday to honor the soldiers who perished in the crash.

"National Guard members are our citizen soldiers who voluntarily serve and protect both here and aboard, and I extend prayers and condolences from all New Yorkers to the family, loved ones and fellow soldiers of these honorable heroes who we will never forget," New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo stated.